Banned boxer dies after fight

Press, 17 July 1976, Page 48

Banned boxer dies after fight

PA

Auckland

A 24-year-old New Zealand amateur boxer has died in Noumea, New Caledonia, after being knocked out in a fight last Saturday. The boxer, Peter Gilbert.; of Whangarei, had been placed under a mandatory one-month ban after being knocked out in Auckland on June 14. After the fight, Mr Brian O'Brien, the president of the New Zealand Boxing Council, said that Gilbert should have been put off boxing foi a year. The New Zealand referee who presided over Gilbert's last New Zealand fight also said yesterday that Gilber should not have been badin the ring. Gilbe’ L collapsed half ar hour after his Noumea we! ter-weight bout. He was operated on in a Noume; hospital on Sunday night. Verena, his wife, ar.-* his mother, flew to New Caledonia as soon as they could and Gilbert’s trainer. Rod Langdon, of Parua Bay, was a!so rushed to Gilbert's bed-i side. Mr Bob Lyall. who counted Gilbert out on June 14, was adamant Gilbert! should not have been ba’k| in action so soon. “Every amateur tighter! must, under New Zealand! Boxing Council rules, have, an official pass book which; in effect is his warrant of' fitness to fight." said Mr’ Lyall. "After Gilbert's defeat on June 14, 1 wrote in his; pass book, that he’d been! badly concussed by a knock-j out.

I "That entry in his book] meant an automatic one] month ban from the ring. In fact, Gilbert should not even have been permitted to spar within that period.” The tragedy need never 'have happened for at least one reason — he went into retirement after Christmas, 1974. However, his break from boxing lasted 11 months and he was back in the ring in November last year. His aim was to find a place in the New Zealand team to the dontrea! Olympics. Gilbert won the northern regional final and went to Wellington in March this ear to take on the New tealand champion, Robert .‘olley of Wellington. Gilbert >ut up a grand showing and vent down on points in one >f his best fights in his 11•ear career. Colley, and Javid Jackson, won the Games places. After his June 14 knockout his manager said, . ‘That’s the last time he’ll 1 fight welter-weight.” But Gilbert was invited to i fight in Noumea, as a welter, .by the Auckland Boxing ; Association early this • month. The president of the assoiciation (Mr G. Dwan) would I; only say that he thought Gilj bert was fit to fight. Associi ation sources said that Giljbert was examined by doctors twice after his June : knock-out. once in Whanga- , ,rei and again in Noumea, but ijit is believed the examina- • i tions did not include head • X-rays.